Drapier: So what do we make of the edict to Fianna Fáil deputies and senators last week that they are to cease criticising their leader/Ministers and look positively at the world.
The proposed code of conduct is a silly idea and no matter how it's dressed up it remains a silly idea. Séamus Kirk, chairman of Fianna Fáil, is a decent man but is this wholly his proposal? P.J. Mara, the King of Spin, summed it all up some years ago when he laid down the code of conduct for Fianna Fáil members: "Una Voce, uno Duce", or as translated pithily by him "no more nibbling at my leader's bum".
Easter is upon us with daffodils, tulips, Easter eggs and all of the surrounding hype. For one particular Minister and Department, Easter, and particularly the week following Easter, means just one thing - visits to all the educational conferences. INTO, ASTI, TUI, major religious and managers and the parents' group, and all in different areas of the country.
The Via Dolorosa it has been rightly called. Even the most experienced of Ministers find it daunting to travel from one venue to another, listen to litanies of gripes at each venue and at the same time to present a pleasant and progressive face to all of the constituent groups.
Minister Noel Dempsey will be going with some laurel leaves on his brow in that he has won the round with the ASTI regarding the supervision issue. ASTI members had become wearied after three years of internal bickering and in the end individual teachers had their say. But Noel Dempsey went out when the issue was uncertain and his country-wide tour secured him the affirmation which was needed.
Education remains a constantly tricky portfolio. The next item on the Minister's desk is the review of third-level funding. Politicians and commentators constantly harp on about whether there will or will not be a reintroduction of fees. But it's not quite like that. Drapier expects that what the Minister will produce during Easter week will be a comprehensive report on third-level funding and particularly how it can be more equitably distributed.
The Progressive Democrats have laid down their marker again at their conference. For them it is an issue now on which they have laid out their stall - no return to third-level fees.
An interesting cameo in both the Dáil and the Seanad last Wednesday morning. For a short time it looked as if women were ruling Ireland. Five Marys at the helm. In the Dáil Mary Harney was taking the Order of Business flanked by Mary Coughlan and by Mary Hanafin. Simultaneously Mary O'Rourke was taking the Order of Business in the Seanad, and of course up in Áras an Uachtaráin Mary McAleese ruled her kingdom. All being competent, articulate and quietly sure of themselves.
The European election scene is gathering pace. In the Dublin region the main players as of now seem to be: Eoin Ryan for Fianna Fáil, Liz O'Donnell for the Progressive Democrats, Mary Banotti/Nora Owen for Fine Gael, Proinsias De Rossa for Labour, Patricia McKenna, the Greens, and for Sinn Féin, Mary Lou O'Donnell.
And all this is before an Independent enters the fray. There is much potential for all the parties in the forthcoming local and European elections. Fianna Fáil did well in 1999 with extra seats and a very handsome local election result.
But Drapier points out that that was in the middle of the economic boom and the world was rosy.
It's a different picture now, but each party will be putting huge effort into these elections. Punters are of the opinion that Liz O'Donnell will take a seat for the Progressive Democrats. That will certainly rattle the cages of the other parties.
People in Leinster House were upset at the slow pace of the Northern Ireland talks. The phrase "acts of completion" captures both the enormity and the simplicity of what is required. The Taoiseach and Tony Blair are much commended for their commitment and diligence, and indeed George Bush was included in this.
However, the sober point is that a deal has not been concluded.
But Easter is a period of hope and renewal and there is still a great amount of optimism that acts of completion will come shortly, and would allow the full potential of the agreement to be developed to the highest degree.
The Government and all the political parties are standing firm. Clearly, if matters work out satisfactorily it will be enormously historically important and will mean so much for the island as a whole.
The imperative of the popular mandate of the agreement cannot be put aside and all now hope that vox populi will finally have its way.
... End of Oireachtas term again. On this occasion Drapier will deal briefly with the three main party leaders and post-Easter will return to the leaders of the other parties. So how now do we rate the Taoiseach, the leader of Fine Gael, and the leader of Labour.
Bertie holds his own despite many competing demands on his time and thoughts, and he should bare his teeth more often in the Dáil as he did noisily on Tuesday. Because it is so unusual for him it makes a positive statement.
Enda Kenny for Fine Gael is improving. That is the current view of most members. In his Dáil performance and in his TV/radio outings he is slowly gaining stature and showing amiability.
Pat Rabbitte as leader of the Labour Party is not continuing his initial impact. A leader needs much more than to be adept at quips and, while Pat is still the master of the quip or the throwaway line, his contributions frequently seem jaded. A happy Easter to all.